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UN Special Envoy for Oceans

The Aspen High Seas Initiative is off to a strong start since its inauguration this summer at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

As co-chair of the initiative, David Shaw reported today that United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has announced creation of a UN Special Envoy for the Ocean to give a powerful voice to ocean stewardship. The creation of this position was a high priority of the Aspen oceans initiative and the subject of considerable effort by the project team.

We welcome Peter Thomson to this important post. Thomson served as a civil servant in the Government of Fiji, including permanent Representative of Fiji to the UN. His leadership on oceans issues is widely recognized and appreciated. Mr. Thomson will lead UN’s advocacy and public outreach efforts for ocean stewardship inside and outside of the UN system.

An excerpt from the Aspen Ideas Festival panel discussion regarding the special UN envoy can be seen here.